Attachment for sewing machines



Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE.

FRANK HEITZLEB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application led September 20, 1924.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HEITZLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Boston; in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachmentsfor Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines andparticularly to devices for enabling the operator clearly to observe thesewing operation without moving in too close proximity to the work.

Sewing machine operators are ordinarily subjected to very great eyestrain when working over extended periods of time because it isessential for eliicient results that the material being sewed constantlybe watched closely and intensely so that it may pro erly be guided anddirected relatively to t e reciprocating needle. In order more clearlyto watch the sewing operation most operators bend over closely to thework and the muscles in their backs become extremely tired so thatineliicient work soon results or they are compelled to cease Working andrest for a while. Furthermore working upon black or brightly coloredcloth for a time is hard on the eyes and is liable to injure the visionso that o erators are unable to work on such cloth or long periods oftime. The above diliiculties tend materially to reduce the volume ofwork accomplished in tailoring establishments and other places where itis desirable that the machines be kept in continuous operation.

Objects of the invention are to overcome the above difficulties toprovide a simple device readily attachable to sewing machines and havinga lens which magnifies that portion of the material in which thestitches are being formed and which is conveniently adjustable to aposition so that the operator ma assume a comfortable position while atis work; to provide in connection with such device means for shuttingoil' the injurious ultra-violet and infra-red light rays so that whiteor brightly colored materials can be scwed without danger of strainingthe eyes; and to mount the device in such position as to permit him toapply his hands or lingers in the usual manner for manipulating thework.

Serial No. 738,835.

The invention is shown by way of illus tration in the accompanyingdrawings in. which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a sewing machine equipped with a lens formagnifying that portion of the work at which the stitches are beingformed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the device attached to the sewingmachine head;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the magnifying device Ais attached to a sewing machine B. The sewing machine is of usual andwell-known construction having the supporting arm 1 with which thedepending head 2 is integral; the needle bar 3 carrying the needle 4reciprocating in the head 2; and thread 5 being fed from a suitablesource to the needle in the usual manner. The cloth or other material tobe sewed is supported on the work rest 6 and guided under the needle 4and pressure foot 7 in the sewing operation.

The magnifying device A is preferably attached to the head 2 of themachine in spaced relation to the work rest 6 and serves to enable theoperator more readily and easily to watch the material being sewed. Thisdevice comprises a rectangular metal frame 8 for the lenses 9 and 10which are held in place by an inwardly offset shoulder ll on the insideof the trame on one sidev and angular metal corner pieces l2 on theopposite side which are removably connected to the frame by screws sothat the lenses may be removed to enable them to be replaced by othersof greater or less magnifying power. The lens l0 is preferably of longfocus plano-convex type and the lens 9 may be of glass colored amber,blue or in fact any suitable shade, such as the colors known to theoptical trade as amethyst or novial, being especially well adapted torelieve the eyes of the operator and enable him to sew brightly coloredcloths for an extended period of time without danger of eye strain.

One side of the frame 8 is pivoted to an extensible arm 13 at a pointotfset from the center thereof in order that the trame may be tilted tothe proper' angle for the operator conveniently to look through thelenses. In order to hold the trame 8 tilted to the desired degree acurved slot 1st is formed in the arm 13 and a screw 15 entends throughthe slot into a lug 16 formed on the trame. The arm 13 is made up ot twopieces held together by screws 17 which extend through elongate slots 18in one ot the pieces and in this manner the lengthot' the arm can bevaried to bring the frame 8 closer to or tart-her away from the workrest 6, as desired.

The arm 13 is supported from the head 2 ot' the machine by a bracket 19which is connected thereto by screws, a pad 20 of felt, rubber or othersuitable material being interposed between the bracket and head to takeup the machine vibration. The arm 13 is pvoted to the bracket 19 so thatit can occupy the depending position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, whenin use, or to an inoperative position as shown in the dot and dashlines. In order to hold the arm 13 in either of said positions thebracket 19 is formed with a tubular bearing projection 21 having arecess to receive a coil spring 22 bearing against the under side of ascrew 23, the screw being threaded into the arm 13 so that the arm 13 isyieldingly held against one end of the projection 21. Formed in theouter edge ot the projection 21 in diametrically opposed relation aresockets 211C arranged to receive the projecting end of a threaded pin 25which snaps into one or the other of the sockets thus holding the arm inone position or another.

1i greater magnifying power is desired two plano-convex lenses 10a and10b having an interposed colored lens 9a may be mounted in a frame Sa towhich is secured as by screws a plate 26 having an integralscrew-threaded stud 27 for pivoting the frame to the arm 13, a cap screw28 being threaded into the stud for holding the frame in position. Inorder to hold the lenses to the frame 8@L clamps 28 in the form of metalstrips bent at substantially right angles lit over the sides of theframe and are held thereto by screws, thus enabling the lenses to beremoved in a simple manner. It will be observed that the frame 8a islonger than the frame 8 so that a larger surface is covered although itis to be understood that the size and shape thereof may be varied asdesired.

I claim:

1. An attachment for sewing machines comprising an arm supporting amagnifying lens at one end, a intle member projecting from the oppositeend of the arm,

and a bracket adapted to be secured to the machine frame having abearing for the pintle, a spring tending to move the pintle axially otthe bearing, the latter having spaced sockets in its end wall, and a pinprojecting from the arm adjacent to the pint-le and alternativelyengageable with either ot'said sockets to hold the arm either inoperative or inoperative position.

2. An attachment tor sewing machines comprising a bracket adapted to besecured to the head of a sewing machine, an arm pi voted at one end tothe bracket, means :tor normally retaining the arm in a predeterminedsubstantially' vertical position including a spring urging the arm intocontact with the bracket and a pin carried by one ot' said partsnormally engaging a socket in the other of said parts, a lens pivotallysupported adjacent to the lower end ot' the arm to turn about asubstantially horizontal axis, and means `for retaining said lens in aselected position of angular adjustment about said axis.

3. An attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket provided withmeans for attaching it to the frame of a sewing machine, said bracketbeing provided with a resilient pad for engagement with the surface ot'the machine frame, an arm pivoted to the bracket, said arm comprisingrelatively adjustable sections, and a magnifying lens carried by saidarm.

1. An attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket adapted to besecured to the head of the machine, an arm comprising a pair of elongatemembers, one of said members having elongate slots therein and the otherhaving set screws engaging said slots to permit adjustment of the lengthof the arm, a pivot connecting one of said members to the bracket, alens frame pivotally connected to the other of said members, and a longfocus lens in said trame.

5. An attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket adapted to beattached to a part of the machine, an arm pivoted to said bracket, arectangular frame pivoted to said arm, a pair of plano-convex lenses insaid frame, a colored transparent screen interposed between the/denses,detachable retainers for holding the'lnses and screen in the trame,means normally retaining the arm in a position such that the lenses areadjacent to the presser foot but spaced from the work support, theJtraine being pivoted to the arm to tilt so that the operator is enabledto observe the sewing operation through both lenses without movingclosely to the sewing mechanism.

6. An attachment for sewing machines comprising a bracket adapted to beattached to a part of the machine, an extensible arm pivoted to saidbracket, a rectangular frame pivoted to said arm, a convex lens in saidframe, a colored transparent screen in said frame, detachable anglemembers engaging the frame, removably holding said lens and screen insaid frame, said arm when in normal position holding the lenses in thevicinity of the sewing mechanism, the frame being pivoted to the arm totilt so as to var the angle made by the focal axis of the lens with theplane of the Work support of the machine.

7. An attachment forl sewing machines comprising an arm, means forpivotally attaching the arm to the frame of a sewing machine, springactuated means for positively retaining the arm in desired position ofangular adjustment, a lens frame secured to the arm, a long focusmagnifying lens Within the frame, a colored transparent screen alsomounted in the same frame and means for removably securing the lens andcolored screen in the frame.

8. An attachment for sewing machines comprising an arm pivotally securedat one end to the machine head, a rectangular lens frame detachably andadjustably secured to the opposite end of the arm, a pair of long focusplano-convex lenses arranged with their convex faces adjacent to eachother in the frame, and a plate of plane colored glass disposed betweenthe lenses.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 16th day of September, 1924.

FRANK HEITZLER.

